Steering column

Abstract

A steering column has a first steering column member movable axially relative to a second steering column member. A member having a plurality of teeth is connected to the first steering column member and movable with the first steering column member relative to the second steering column member. A support connects the steering column to a vehicle frame. A clamping member has a first position in which the clamping member clamps the member connected to the first steering column member to the support to prevent the first steering column member from moving relative to the second steering column member. The clamping member has a second position in which the clamping member permits the first steering column member to move relative to the second steering column member. A telescope locking member has a first position in which the telescope locking member engages the plurality of teeth on the member connected to the first steering column member to prevent movement of the first steering column member relative to the second steering column member. The telescope locking member has a second position in which the telescope locking member is disengaged from the plurality of teeth on the member connected to the first steering column member to permit axial movement of the first steering column member relative to the second steering column member.

Having described the invention, the following is claimed: 
     
       1. A steering column for use in a vehicle having a frame, said steering column comprising: first and second steering column members, said first steering column member being axially movable relative to said second steering column member;   a member connected to said first steering column member and movable with said first steering column member relative to said second steering column member, said member including a plurality of teeth;   support means for connecting said steering column to the frame of the vehicle;   clamping means for clamping said member connected to said first steering column member to said support means, said clamping means having a first position in which said clamping means clamps said member connected to said first steering column member to said support means to prevent said first steering column member from moving relative to said second steering column member and a second position in which said clamping means permits said first steering column member to move relative to said second steering column member; and   a telescope locking member engageable with said plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member, said telescope locking member having a first position in which said telescope locking member engages at least one of said plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member to prevent movement of said first steering column member relative to said second steering column member and a second position in which said telescope locking member is spaced from said plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member to permit axial movement of said first steering column member relative to said second steering column member.   
     
     
       2. A steering column as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamping means moves from its second position to its first position as said telescope locking member moves from its second position toward its first position, said clamping means being in its first position prior to said telescope locking member reaching its first position as said telescope locking member moves from its second position toward its first position. 
     
     
       3. A steering column as set forth in claim 2 wherein said telescope locking member includes means for moving said clamping means between its first and second positions. 
     
     
       4. A steering column as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamping means includes a clamping member connected to said support means and extending around a portion of said member connected to said first steering column member, said clamping member having a first position in which said member connected to said first steering column member is clamped to said support by said clamping member and a second position in which said first steering column member is axially movable relative to said second steering column member. 
     
     
       5. A steering column as set forth in claim 4 wherein said telescope locking member includes means for moving said clamping member from its second position to its first position as said telescope locking member moves from its second position toward its first position. 
     
     
       6. A steering column as set forth in claim 5 wherein said telescope locking member has a third position in which said clamping member is in its first position clamping said member connected to said first steering column member and said telescope locking member is spaced from said plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member. 
     
     
       7. A steering column as set forth in claim 6 further including spring means for connecting said telescope locking member with said clamping member, said spring means permitting said telescope locking member to move from its third position to its first position while said clamping member is in its first position. 
     
     
       8. A steering column as set forth in claim 7 wherein said spring means applies a force to said clamping member when said telescope locking member is in its third position. 
     
     
       9. A steering column as set forth in claim 7 wherein said spring means includes an S-shaped spring connected between said clamping member and said telescope locking member. 
     
     
       10. A steering column as set forth in claim 1 wherein said telescope locking member includes a portion extending parallel to said member connected to said first steering column member, said portion of said telescope locking member having a plurality of teeth engageable with said plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member. 
     
     
       11. A steering column as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member connected to said first steering column member comprises a jacket tube circumscribing said first steering column member, said support means including a tubular member circumscribing at least a portion of said jacket tube. 
     
     
       12. A steering column as set forth in claim 1 further including means for biasing said telescope locking member to its first position. 
     
     
       13. A steering column as set forth in claim 12 further including an actuator member for moving said telescope locking member from its first position to its second position, said actuator member having a first position in which said telescope locking member is in its first position and a second position in which said telescope locking member is in its second position, said actuator member being movable with said first steering column member relative to said second steering column member and said telescope locking member, said biasing means biasing said actuator member to its first position. 
     
     
       14. A steering column as set forth in claim 1 further including an input shaft connectable with a steering wheel and supported on said first steering column member for pivotal movement relative to said first steering column member about an axis extending transverse to the direction of movement between said first and second steering column members and tilt locking means for locking said input shaft in any one of a plurality of pivot positions relative to said first steering column member. 
     
     
       15. A steering column as set forth in claim 14 wherein said tilt locking means includes means for locking said input shaft in any one of an infinite number of pivot positions relative to said first steering column member. 
     
     
       16. A steering column as set forth in claim 14 further including an actuator member for moving said telescope locking member from its first position to its second position and for unlocking said tilt locking means, said actuator member having a first position in which said telescope locking member is in its first position and said tilt locking means is locked, a second position in which said telescope locking member is in its second position and said tilt locking means is locked, and a third position in which said tilt locking means is unlocked and said telescope locking member is in its first position. 
     
     
       17. A steering column as set forth in claim 16 further including means biasing said actuator member into its first position. 
     
     
       18. A steering column for use in a vehicle having a frame, said steering column comprising: first and second steering column members, said first steering column member being axially movable relative to said second steering column member;   a member connected to said first steering column member and movable with said first steering column member relative to said second steering column member, said member including a plurality of teeth;   support means for connecting said steering column to the frame of the vehicle;   means for clamping said member connected to said first steering column member to said support means to prevent relative movement between said first and second steering column members;   a telescope locking member engageable with said plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member for preventing relative movement between said first and second steering column members; and   actuator means for releasing said clamping means and moving said telescope locking member to a position in which said telescope locking member is spaced from said plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member, said actuator means having a first position in which said clamping means clamps said member connected to said first steering column member to said support means and said telescope locking member engages said plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member, said actuator means having a second position in which said clamping means is in a released condition and said telescope locking member is spaced from said plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member, said actuator means having a third position in which said clamping means clamps said member connected to said first steering column member to said support means and said telescope locking member is spaced from said plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member.   
     
     
       19. A steering column as set forth in claim 18 wherein said third position of said actuator member is located between said first and second positions. 
     
     
       20. A steering column as set forth in claim 19 wherein said telescope locking member includes means for moving said clamping means between its released condition and its clamping condition. 
     
     
       21. A steering column as set forth in claim 18 wherein said clamping means includes a clamping member connected to said support means and extending around a portion of said member connected to said first steering column member, said clamping member having a first position in which said member connected to said first steering column member is clamped to said support means by said clamping member and a second position in which said first steering column is axially movable relative to said second steering column member. 
     
     
       22. A steering column as set forth in claim 21 wherein said telescope locking member includes means for moving said clamping member from its second position to its first position as said telescope locking member moves into engagement with said plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member. 
     
     
       23. A steering column as set forth in claim 22 further including spring means for connecting said telescope locking member with said clamping member, said spring means permitting said actuator member to move from its third position to its first position. 
     
     
       24. A steering column as set forth in claim 23 wherein said spring means applies a force to said clamping member when said actuator member is in its third position. 
     
     
       25. A steering column as set forth in claim 23 wherein said spring means includes an S-shaped spring connected between said clamping member and said telescope locking member. 
     
     
       26. A steering column as set forth in claim 22 wherein said telescope locking member includes a portion extending parallel to said member connected to said first steering column member, said portion of said telescope locking member having a plurality of teeth engageable with said plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member. 
     
     
       27. A steering column as set forth in claim 22 wherein said member connected to said first steering column member comprises a jacket tube circumscribing said first steering column member, said support means including a tubular member circumscribing at least a portion of said jacket tube. 
     
     
       28. A steering column as set forth in claim 22 further including means for biasing said actuator means to its first position. 
     
     
       29. A steering column as set forth in claim 22 further including an input shaft connectable with a steering wheel and supported on said first steering column member for pivotal movement relative to said first steering column member about an axis extending transverse to the direction of movement between said first and second steering column members and tilt locking means for locking said input shaft in any one of a plurality of pivot positions relative to said first steering column member. 
     
     
       30. A steering column as set forth in claim 29 wherein said tilt locking means includes means for locking said input shaft in any one of an infinite number of pivot positions relative to said first steering column member. 
     
     
       31. A steering column as set forth in claim 30 wherein said tilt locking means is locked when said actuator means is in said first, second, and third positions, said actuator means having a fourth position in which said tilt locking means is unlocked, said clamping means clamping said member connected to said first steering column member of said support means when said actuator means is in its fourth position, said telescope locking member engaging said plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member when said actuator means is in its fourth position. 
     
     
       32. A steering column as set forth in claims 31 further including means biasing said actuator means into its first position. 
     
     
       33. A steering column for use in a vehicle having a frame, said steering column comprising: first and second steering column members, said first steering column member being axially movable relative to said second steering column member;   a member connected to said first steering column member and movable with said first steering column member relative to said second steering column member;   support means for connecting said steering column to the frame of the vehicle;   means for clamping said member connected to said first steering column member to said support means to prevent relative movement between said first and second steering column members;   a telescope locking member for releasing said clamping means, said telescope locking member having a first position in which said clamping means clamps said member connected to said first steering column member to said support means and a second position in which said clamping means is in a released condition; and   spring means for connecting said telescope locking member with said clamping means, said spring means applying a force to said clamping means when said telescope locking member is in its first position.   
     
     
       34. A steering column as set forth in claim 33 wherein said clamping means includes a clamping member connected to said support means and extending around a portion of said member connected to said first steering column member, said clamping member having a first position in which said member connected to said first steering column member is clamped to said support means by said clamping member and a second position in which said first steering column member is axially movable relative to said second steering column member. 
     
     
       35. A steering column as set forth in claim 34 wherein said spring means includes an S-shaped spring connected between said clamping member and said telescope locking member. 
     
     
       36. A steering column as set forth in claim 33 wherein said telescope locking member includes a portion extending parallel to said member connected to said first steering column member, said portion of said telescope locking member having a plurality of teeth engageable with a plurality of teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member, said teeth on said telescope locking member engaging said teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member when said telescope locking member is in its first position, said teeth on said telescope locking member being spaced from said teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member when said telescope locking member is in its second position. 
     
     
       37. A steering column as set forth in claim 36 wherein said teeth on said telescope locking member engage said teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member when said telescope locking member is in its first position, said teeth on said telescope locking member being spaced from said teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member when said telescope locking member is in its second position, said telescope locking member having a third position in which said clamping means is in a clamping condition and said teeth on said telescope locking member are spaced from said teeth on said member connected to said first steering column member. 
     
     
       38. A steering column as set forth in claim 33 further including an input shaft connectable with a steering wheel and supported on said first steering column member for pivotal movement relative to said first steering column member about an axis extending transverse to the direction of movement between said first and second steering column members and tilt locking means for locking said input shaft in any one of a plurality of pivot positions relative to said first steering column member. 
     
     
       39. A steering column as set forth in claim 38 further including actuator means for moving said telescope locking member between its first and second positions, said actuator member having a first position in which said tilt locking means is locked and said telescope locking member is in its first position, said actuator means having a second position in which said tilt locking means is locked and said telescope locking member is in its second position, said actuator means having a third position in which said telescope locking member is in its first position and said tilt locking means is unlocked. 
     
     
       40. A steering column as set forth in claim 39 further including means biasing said actuator means into its first position.